Cuomo Wants $10.50 Minimum Wage; Would Let NYC Go To $11.50

Gov. Andrew Cuomo wants New York to raise its minimum wage to $10.50 an hour.

Cuomo included the proposal in a long list of priorities discussed in his state of the state address Wednesday.

The state’s minimum wage is now $8.75 and is set to go to $9 at the end of the year.

Cuomo’s proposal would raise it to $10.50 by the end of 2016. The Democratic governor would also give New York City the authority to boost it to $11.50.

Groups that have long pushed for a higher wage say Cuomo’s proposal doesn’t go far enough. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has pushed for the ability to raise the minimum to $13.30.

The measure must be approved by lawmakers.

(AP)